By Andrew Warshaw
May 30 – FIFA’s Congress in Sao Paolo next month will include some of the most pressing issues facing the game including match-fixing, third party ownership, the Israel-Palestine impasse and an update by Dominic Scala, chairman of the organisation’s Audit and Compliance committee.
This time last year, after a succession of well-publicised scandals, Scala revealed that as a result of greater scrutiny of FIFA’s planned development grants, projects in seven countries had been halted because of concerns over accounting and that in future FIFA would make sure its monies are used for the purpose they were intended.
Point four on next month’s agenda refers to “suspension or expulsion of a member” without providing further details, while there is bound to be considerable interest over the issue of age limits and terms of office for senior FIFA members, a reform recommendation that has not been adopted in FIFA’s reform package.
Although the proposal is back on the agenda, it remains to be seen whether any changes will be made or whether it will shifted on to the backburner. FIFA president Sepp Blatter, who is expected to announce around Congress time that he is to stand for a fifth term at the age of 78 after taking soundings from his members, has made it clear on numerous occasions that he considers an age ceiling discriminatory.
That will not be lost on Jerome Champagne, the only candidate who has so far officially declared a bid for the presidency. Champagne, a former FIFA deputy general secretary before being ousted in 2010, launched his campaign in London earlier this year.
Another item on the agenda specifically addresses the rules for standing for FIFA president at next year’s election. Although he has been out of the game in terms of having a senior position in any formal football organisation or federation, Champagne has read the relevant FIFA statute and is convinced his various consultancy roles and the extent of his involvement in the game make him eligible.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1738281699labto1738281699ofdlr1738281699owedi1738281699sni@w1738281699ahsra1738281699w.wer1738281699dna1738281699